CHILD PROTECTION INQUIRY

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:07): Thank you, sir. My supplementary is to the minister. Is the minister suggesting that Mr DeGenarro's resignation is in no way related to his involvement in the case at the centre of the Debelle inquiry?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:07): I think there is a big difference between someone choosing to resign as a result of—

Mr Venning: You've got to be kidding!

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: There is a big difference between someone choosing to resign and someone being threatened with resignation. Now, I did not assert what the leader actually said and, in fact, my understanding is that letters were issued to both those people advising, I think, essentially, that the CE no longer had confidence in them, and Mr DeGennaro chose to resign.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I call to order the members for Schubert, Heysen and Goyder. The leader.